1,2,4-4h-triazole derivatives

ABSTRACT

FUNGICIDAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING AS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT 1,2,4-4H-TRIAZOLES OF THE FORMULA   3-R1,4-R2,5-R3-4H-1,2,4-TRIAZOLE   OR A TAUTOMERIC FORM THEREOF. THESE FUNGICIDES ARE PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR THE CONTROL OF RUSTS. CERTAIN OF THESE COMPOUNDS ARE SYSTEMIC IN ACTION GIVING EXCELLENT CONTROL OF CEREAL RUSTS, NOTABLY WHEAT RUST, AND ARE PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AS SEED TREATMENTS.

United States Patent 3,824,312 1,2,4-4H-TRIAZOLE DERIVATIVES Michael C. Seidel, Levittown, William C. von Meyer, Willow Grove, and Stanley A. Greenfield, Ambler, Pa., issignors to Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia,

No Drawing. Application Aug. 26, 1970, Ser. No. 67,198, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 847,481, July 3, 1969, now Patent No. 3,701,784, which in turn is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 757,490, Sept. 4, 1968, now Patent No. 3,769,411. Divided and this application Oct. 16, 1972, Ser. No. 297,865

Int. Cl. A0111 9/00, 17/00 US. Cl. 424-269 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Fungicidal compositions containing as the active ingredient 1,2,4-4H-triazoles of the formula or a tautomeric form thereof. These fungicides are particularly useful for the control of rusts. Certain of these compounds are systemic in action, giving excellent control of cereal rusts, notably wheat rust, and are particularly effective as seed treatments.

THE DISCLOSURE This application is a divisional of US. Ser. No. 67,198, filed Aug. 26, 1970, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of US. Ser. No. 847,481, filed July 3, 1969, now US. Pat. 3,701,784, which in turn is a continuationin-part of US. Ser. No. 757,490, filed Sept. 4, 1968 now US. Pat. 3,769,411. This invention is concerned with substituted 1,2,4-4I-I-triazoles, hereinafter termed 1,-2,4-triazoles, which possess fungicidal properties useful for the control of fungal diseases on plants and in some instances herbicidal properties and to agricultural compositions containing them. It also relates to certain of these 1,2,4- triazoles which are novel compounds and to their method of preparation. Further, it relates to certain 1,2,4-triazoles which are useful as systemic fungicides for the control of a rust disease, as on a cereal crop.

The chemistry of the 1,2,4-triazo1es has been reviewed by K. T. Potts in Chemical Reviews 61, 87127 (1961).

A few such compounds are known to possess biological properties. 3-Amino-l,2,4-triazole is a commercial herbicide, and thiocarbamyl derivatives of it possess fungicidal properties useful for paints according to French Pat. 1,425,253. Japanese Patent Publication 11480/66 disclosed certain 3 mercapto-4-amino-5 (substituted-methyl)-1,2,4-4H-triazoles as fungicides. 5 Amino-1-[bis(dimethylamino) phosphenyl]-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole is a known fungicide. US. Pat. 3,308,131 discloses among others 3-mercapto l (substituted-carbamyl)-l,2,4-triazoles useful as insecticides.

Relatively few compounds are known to control fungal rust oragnisms and still fewer which control them by systemic action. Rust fungicides include symmetricaldichlorotetrafiuoroacetone, ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, nickel compounds, phenylhyrazones, cycloheximide and certain carboxamido oxathiins.

The substituted 1,2,4-triazoles of this invention which have been found useful as fungicides for the control of phytopathogenic fungi are represented by the general formula wherein R is hydrogen or SA wherein A is (a) hydrogen,

(b) lower alkyl groups and lower alkyl groups substituted by halogen, preferably chlorine, lower alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy or nitro; aryloxy; alkoxy, alkyl, halo or nitro substituted aryloxy; aryl; alkoxy, alkyl, halo preferably chloro or nitro substituted aryl; benzoyl and halo preferably chloro, alkoxy, alkyl or nitro substituted benzoyl,

(c) the group -C(X)R wherein X is O or S and R is selected from the group consisting of aryl, lower alkyl substituted aryl, lower alkoxy substituted aryl, halo and nitro substituted aryl, furoyl, and the group -'NR R wherein R and 'R may be hydrogen or lower alkyl groups,

(d) the group -'CH C(O)'N R R wherein R and R have the above meaning,

'(e) the group -'CH(OH)R wherein R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower halo-substituted alkyl,

(f) the group wherein C and D are hydrogen and a meta-directing group such as cyano, nitro, sulfonic acid and sulfonic acid derivatives with the proviso that only one of C and D may be hydrogen,

(g) salt-forming metals such as the alkali and alkaline earth metals, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, tin and zinc;

(a) alkyl, straight or branched, of 1-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy, mercapto, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl mercapto, cyano, nitro, loweralkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, phenyl, phenyl substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, phenoxy or thiophenoxy which may be substituted in the phenyl group with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, or a COY group wherein Y is hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino or an 0M group wherein M is a saltforming metal,

(1)) alkenyl of 2 to '6 carbon atoms,

(c) alkynyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms,

(d) cycloalkyl of 3 to '8 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy or nitro groups,

(e) aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms which may be substituted in the aryl group with lower alkyl, halo preferably chloro and nitro groups,

(f) aryl which may be substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cyano or nitro groups, or

(g) a mono or bicyclic heterocyclic group of 5 to 9 atoms which contains at least one and up to three nitrogen atoms as a heteroatom and which may be substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cyano or nitro groups; and

R is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms, hydroxy, furyl, and the group --COOB wherein B is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, ammonium, ammonium monosubstituted with lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl, ammonium disubstituted with lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl, ammonium trisubstituted with lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl, quaternary ammonium and saltforming metals; and acid salts of the basic substituted 1,2,4-triazoles prepared from mineral acids such as fluoboric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric and sulfuric and from mono and polybasic organic acids such as acetic, chloroacetic, acrylic, toluene-sulfonic, oxalic and maleic.

When the term lower is employed in conjunction with alkyl and alkoxy as above it is intended to indicate that the alkyl or alkyl portion thereof has a carbon content of 1 to carbon atoms. Alkyl groups as referred to for Formula I may be straight or branched chain.

Compounds of Formula I in which R is SH may exist in tautomeric form; thus,

N NNH B l -SH :1 mi =s N N 1 1 I'm (III) Formula II is a 1,2,4-4H-triazole whereas Formula III is more properly known as a A -1,2,4-triazoline-5-thione. Compounds derived from such a tautomeric mixture by introduction of an A group, as defined above except possibly for metallic salts, could therefore exist as Ill It R N SAor R LN -S or (IV) (V) as mixtures of these. However, for the present purpose these compounds will be referred to as 1,2,4-4H-triazoles or more simply as 1,2,4-triazoles.

Further when R is OH two additional tautomers are possible, thus,

1 ll HOLN SA or I It The method of Bartlett and Humphrey J. Chem. Soc.

1967, 1664-1666, involving a transarnination of N,N-dimethylformamide azine may be used; thus The reaction usually involves heating to remove the dimethylamine and may be run in the presence of a solvent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon. An acidic catalyst may be used.

4 The method of Pellizzari (Chemical Reviews 61, (1961)) involves diformhydrazide with primary amines; thus OCHNHNHCHO +R NH ZH O +VI (B) For the compounds where R is SH and R is hydrogen,

2 VII).

This involves reaction of hydrazine with an isothiocyanate (R NCS) to produce a semicarbazide which is then formylated followed by cyclization in the presence of a base catalyst; thus HzNNHz R NCS H2NNHC(S)NHR HzNNHC(S)NHR HCOOH HNI;IH

O=OH 0=s I (1) O H- (2) 11* VII This general method is described in Organic Syntheses 40, 99 (1960) and Kroger, Sattler and Beyer Annalen 643, 128 (1961). The formation of the semicarbazide and its formylation are standard type reactions, e.g. see Lieber, Pillai and Hites Canadian Journal of Chemistry 35, 832 (1957). These intermediates may, if desired, be isolated prior to the cyclization reaction. The cyclization reaction may be conveniently carried out in the presence of a base catalyst. Cyclization may be optimized by the use of from 2 to 3 equivalents of the base catalyst. The cyclization catalyst can be selected from inorganic base catalysts such as metal hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates, or organic base catalysts such as triethylamine, pyridine and .N,Ndirnethyl-aniline. Sodium hydroxide is a readily available base catalyst for use in the cyclization reaction.

Since the intermediate products prior to cyclization are usually solids, a reaction solvent is usually necessary. The cyclization reaction may be conveniently carried out in any solvent medium that is inert under the reaction conditions. Suitable solvents are water, alcohols such as methanol, butanol and propanol, benzene, hexane, or other suitable inert organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, ether, dimethylsulfoxide, etc.

The cyclization reaction temperature is not critical. Temperatures in the range of -10 C. to 100 C. may be used, with temperatures in the range of 25 to 75 C. being preferred.

An alternate procedure for producing compounds of Formula VII is to react the intermediate semicarbazide with ethyl formate in the presence of an alkali alkoxide, such as sodium methoxide, and heating the mixture to produce the 1,2,4-triazole; thus NaOCH;

heat

The general method is described by Pesson, Polmanss and Dupin Compt. rend. 248, 1677 (1959).

The removal of the mercapto group in a 1,2,4-triazole by oxidation, such as with nitric acid, or hydrogen peroxide is known from the work of Wohl and Marchwald, Berichte 22, 576 (1889). Thus compounds of Formula VI may be produced from those of Formula VII.

(C) For the compounds where R is SH and R is a group other than hydrogen or carboxyl,

l R (VIII). The cyclization of a 1-acyl-4-substituted thiosemicarbazide by an alkaline substance or by heat has been HZNNHC(S)NHR EtOOCH VII An alternate procedure involves the reaction of a 4-substituted thiosemicarbazide with an acid ester, e.g. the ethyl ester, in the presence of a sodium alkoxide, e.g. sodium ethoxide; thus CzHsONa RNHC(S)NHNH2 R3000 CzHa H2O C2H5OH VIII When in the above reaction the acid ester is a carbonate, such as ethyl carbonate, the resulting compound contains an OH group as the R substituent,

HO- NJ-SH 1'1 (IX). Compounds of Formula IX have been prepared by cyclizing 1-substituted-2-thiobiureas as described by Bradsher et al. in the Journal of Organic Chemistry 23, 618 (1958).

(D) For the compounds where R is SH and R is COOH,

l R NCS EtOO C O(O)NHNHC(S)NHR lbasc catalyst In this reaction it has been found that the formation of the alkyloxalyl hydrazide intermediate is enhanced by conducting the reaction at reduced temperatures, e.g. C. to 10 C. Further, reaction and storage temperature conditions are more important with regard to the stability of the 1,2,4-triazoles having a carboxy group in the 5-position, i.e. when R is COO H. These compounds are readily decarboxylated when held at 130 C. for about minutes or at about C. for about 4 hours. An acid catalyst often produces decarboxylation under milder conditions. Thus, decarboxylation of compounds of Formula X is another way of preparing compounds of Formula VII.

(E) Compounds of the type R? (XI) may be prepared by removal of the mercapto group of compounds of Formula VIII and IX by reaction with oxidizing agents such as nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide.

(F) Salts of various of the substituted 1,2,4-triazoles may be made by methods known to one skilled in the art. Thus,

(1) the basic 1,2,4-triazoles may be reacted with mineral and organic acids, e.g. see Ainsworth et al. J. Med. Pharm. Chem. 5, 383 (1962).

(2) those compounds where R is SH group may be reacted with bases such as alkali and alkaline earth hydroxides, oxides and carbonates. Of the alkali salts the sodium salt is preferred. The relatively insoluble heavy metal salts may be made by reacting a water-soluble salt of the heavy metal with a water-soluble salt of the 1,2,4-triazole.

(3) those compounds where R is carboxy may be reacted with metallic bases such as alkali and alkaline earth hydroxides, oxides and carbonates; ammonia and quaternary ammonium hydroxide; and amines. For some salts such as quaternary ammonium and heavy metal ones it is convenient to react a Water-soluble quaternary ammonium or metal salt with a water-soluble salt of the 1,2,4-triazole.

(G) Derivatives of the 1,2,4-triazoles containing a 3-mercapto group, i.e. where R in Formula I is SA, may be made by methods known to one skilled in the art. Thus:

( 1) Where A is alkyl; alkyl substituted with various groups such as alkoxy and aryloxy; aralkyl and substituted aralkyl; the group ---CH C(O)NR R and the group as defined above, the compounds may be made by reaction of the respective halides with a salt of the 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole.

(2) where A is an acyl group such as a benzoyl, furoyl group, carbamoyl or thioearbamoyl, the acyl halides may be reacted with a salt of the 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole.

(3) where A is a lower cyanoalkyl group, the mercapto group of the 1,2,4-triazole of compounds of Formula I, VII and VIII may be reacted with an olefinic nitrile such as acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile. In some instances compounds of Formula 'V are known to result and this is particularly true for compounds which give a Michael type addition such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylic acid, maleic acid, nitroethylene and nitrostyrene. A cyano group can also be introduced by other means known in the art such as replacement of a halo atom by reaction with a cyanide salt or by dehydration of a carbamoyl group.

(4) where A is a -C(O)NHR or C(S)NHR group the mercapto 1,2,4-triazoles may be reacted with an isocyanate (R NCO) or isothiocyanate (R NCS).

Details of preparing the compounds of this invention are given in the following examples which are presented for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Table 1 lists by structure and name, compounds prepared by the above-described processes and constitutes Examples 1 through 100. Table II gives physical characteristics and analyses or literature references for these examples. Specific illustrative preparations of Examples 1, 51, 57, 64, 69, 71, 75, 82, 83, 86, 88, 90, and 96 are set forth below.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 4-n-propy1-1,2-triazole A reaction mixture consisting of 10 g. (0.0705 mole) of N,N-dimethylformamide azine, 41.5 g. (0.705 mole) of rz-propylamine, 0.6 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 200 ml. of benzene was refluxed 4 hrs. and then stripped of solvent. The residue was distilled to give 3.3 g. distilling at 120-125" C. which was 4-n-propyl-1,2,4-triazole.

EXAMPLE 51 Preparation of 4-(2-benzothiazolyl)-1,2,4-triazole A reaction mixture consisting of g. (0.0705 mole) of N,N-dimethylformamide azine, 10.6 g. (0.0705 mole) of 2-aminobenzothiazole, 0.6 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 200 ml. of dimethyl formamide was refluxed 16 hrs., then stripped of solvent. The residue was recrystallized twice from ethanol to give 2.5 g. of solid melting at 199- 201 C. This was 4-(Z-benzothiazolyl)-1,2,4-triazole.

EXAMPLE 57 Preparation of 3-mercapto-4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 4-n-Butylthiosemicarbazide (20.0 g. or 0.136 mole) was heated to reflux with a solution of methanol (100 ml.), sodium methoxide (7.55 g. or 0.140 mole) and ethyl formate (20.7 g. or 0.280 mole). After 8 and 16 hours, 10 ml. and 5 ml. of ethyl formate was added to the refluxing solution. After 24 hours total reflux, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in water (100 ml.). The pH of the solution was adjusted to about 12 with 50% sodium hydroxide solution. This solution Was then heated on a steam bath for 45 minutes, cooled and acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid. The resulting oil was extracted into ether. The ether was dried over sodium sulphate and removed under vacuum. The resulting oil was crystallized from ether-hexane to give 11.8 g. (55% yield) of 3-mercapto- 4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole, m.p. 6769 C. The structure was confirmed by its nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum and its mass spectrum.

EXAMPLE 64 Preparation of 3-mercapto-4-cyclohexyl-1,2,4-triazole Formic acid (90%, 100 ml.) was heated on a steam bath for 15 minutes and then 4-cyclohexy1thiosemicarbazide g. or 0.174 mole) was added portion wise. The resulting clear solution was then heated for an additional 60 minutes, diluted with water ml.) and allowed to cool at 0 C. A precipitate was formed. The precipitate (13 g. or 0.065 mole) was collected and added to a solution of sodium hydroxide (2.6 g. or 0.065 mole) in water (25 ml.) and heated on a steam bath for minutes. The solution was cooled and acidified to pH 2 with dilute hydrochloric acid. The precipitate was collected and recrystallized from ethanol to give 5.3 g. of solid mp. 162- 165 C. The mother liquors from the crystallization were concentrated to give an additional 4.3 g., mp. 162165 C. The total yield was 9.3 g. (78%) of 3-mercapto-4-cyclohexyl-1,2,4-triazole. The structure was confirmed by its nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum and its mass spectrum.

EXAMPLE 69 Preparation of 3-mercapto-4-phenyl-S-hydroxy-1,2,4- triazole To a solution of g. (0.48 mole) of phenyl isothiocyanate in 350 cc. of ether was added 50 g. (0. 48 mole) of ethyl carbazate with stirring. The resulting mixture was heated on a steam bath for 0.5 hr. The precipitate was filtered off and recrystallized from ethanolzwater (1:1) to give white crystals melting at 145146 C. Forty grams of this solid was heated with 240 cc. of 10% KOH on a steam bath for 30 min The reaction mixture was cooled and acidified with 50% hydrochloric acid to give 25 g. of crude, air-dried solid. This was recrystallized from acetone to give 18 g. of solid melting at 135l36 C. It is 3-mercapto-4-phenyl-5-hydroxy-1,2,4-triazole, or a tautomer thereof, containing one-half molecule of water of hydration.

8 EXAMPLE 71 Preparation of 3-mercapto-4-methyl-5-(2-furyl)-1,2,4- triazole (A) Preparation of 1-(2-furoyl)-4-methyl thiosemicarbazide.Furoyl chloride (31 g. or 0.238 mole) was added dropwise to a slurry of 4-methylthiosemicarbazide (25 g. or 0.238 moles) in dry pyridine (200 ml.) cooled to 10. The slurry was allowed to come to ambient temperature and stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into 1500 ml. of crushed ice, the precipitate was collected, dried and recrystallized from EtOH to give 1-(2-furoyl)-4-methyl thiosemicarbazide (28.0 g.). This melted at 204-206" C. (dec.) and was found to contain by analysis 42.4% C, 4.6% H, 21.2% N, 16.1% 0, 15.9% S; C7H9N3O2S requires 42.2% C, 4.5% H, 21.1% N, 16.1% 0, 16.1% S. The structure was confirmed by its infrared spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum.

(B) Conversion of 1-(2-furoyl)-4-met hyl thiosemicarbazide into 3-mercapt0-4-methyl-5-(2-furoy1)-1,2,4- triazole.-The above thiosemicarbazide (28 g. or 0.141 mole) in methanol (300 ml.) was refluxed overnight. in the presence of sodium methoxide (15.2 g. or 0.282 mole). The solvent was then removed under vacuum and the residue was diluted with water (150 ml.). The solution was then acidified with hydrochloric acid, the precipitate was collected, washed with water and dried. The solid was recrystallized from ethanol to give 3- mercapto-4-methyl-5-(2-furyl)-1,2,4-triazole melting at 192194 C. The structure was confirmed by its infrared spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum.

EXAMPLE 75 Preparation of 3-mercapto-4-n-butyl-5-carboxyl- 1,2,4-triazole (A) Preparation of l-ethyl oxalyl-4-n-butylthiosemicarbazide.-To a methanolic solution (200 ml.) of diethyl oxalate g. or 0.683 mole) was added a methanolic solution (200 ml.) of hydrazine hydrate (22.9 g. or 0.68 mole). The addition occurred over a two hour period during which period the reaction temperature was maintained at about 5 C. When the addition was completed n-butyl isothiocyanate (78.4 g. or 0.68 mole) was added at -5 C. The cloudy solution was stirred at ambient temperatures for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered, evaporated under reduced pressures to one-half the original volume, and diluted with water (700 ml.). The resulting precipitate was filtered and air dried to give 154.4 g. (92% yield) of 1-ethyl oxalyl-4-n-butylthiosemicarbazide, m.p. 127-28 C. It was found to contain by analysis 38.76% C, 6.23% H, 19.27% N and 14.83% S; calculated for is 38.33% C, 5.98% H, 19.16% N and 14.63% S.

(B) Conversion of l-ethyl oxalyl-4-n-butylthiosemicarbazide into 3-mercapto-4-n-butyl-5-carboxy-1,2,4-triazole.The thiosemicarbazide (125.0 g. or 0.507 mole) formed above was added to a solution of sodium hydroxide (45.0 g. or 1.125 moles) in water (500 ml.). After 16 hours at ambient temperature, the solution was warmed to 60 C. and cooled. Dilute (37%) hydrochloric acid (112.0 g. or 1.135 moles) was then added cautiously to avoid foaming. The resulting precipitate was filtered and dried at 45 C. in a vacuum oven to give the crude acid (96.5 g., 86% yield), m.-p. 120-122 C. The acid was recrystallized from water (800 ml.) and dried to give essentially pure 3-mercapto-4-n-butyl- 5-carboxy-1,2,4-triazole (67.4 g., 61% yield), mp. 108 110 C. The structure was confirmed by its nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum and infrared spectrum.

9 EXAMPLE 82 EXAMPLE 83 Cyanoethylation of 3-merca-pto 4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole.Acrylonitrile (12 g. or 0.224 mole) was added dropwise to a dioxane (30 ml.) solution of 3-mercapto- 4-n-butyl-1,2,4 triazole g. or 0.0638 mole) in the presence of a 40% aqueous solution of benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (1 ml.). The dark red solution was left standing overnight, an the solvent was removed in vacuum. The tarry residue was taken up in ether, washed with Water, dried, and evaporated to dryness. The resulting oil was distilled to give an oil distilling at 168-175 C./2 mm. Ultraviolet spectra and the teachings of Postoviskii and Shegal, Chemical Abstracts 63, 13242, 1965 indicate this to be 2-(2-cyanoethyl)-4-nbutyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3-thione.

EXAMPLE 86 Preparation of 3-(1-hydroxy-Z,2,2-trichloroethylmercapto)4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole trum.

EXAMPLE 88 Preparation of 3-(4-methoxybenzylmercapto)-4-nbutyl-l,2,4-triazole To a mixture of 10 g. (0.064 mole) of 3-mercapto- 4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole and 2.6 g. (0.064 mole) of sodium hydroxide in 200 ml. of methanol was added 9.9 g. (0.064 mole) of p-methoxybenzyl chloride. The reaction mixture was heated at reflux about hours. The solvent was evaporated off, the residue washed with water, dried and distilled. There was obtained 17.8 g. of yellow liquid distilling at l205 C. at 0.03 mm. Nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet spectra indicated this to be approximately an equal mixture of 3-(4-methoxybenzylmercapto)-4-n-butyl 1,2,4-triazole and 4-n-butyl-2-(4- methoxybenzyl) l ,2,4-triazoline-3thione.

EXAMPLE 90 Preparation of 3-methylcarbamoylmercapto-4-n-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole To 6.0 g. (0.0382 mole) of 3-mercapto-4-n-butyl-1,2,4- triazole dissolved in 50 ml. of ether was added 2.5 g. (0.248 mole) of triethylamine and then 2.5 g. (0.0438 mole) of methyl isocyanate. The resulting orange-brown solution was allowed to stand overnight. The solid which formed was filtered and washed twice with 50 ml. of ether to give 4.7 g. (57% yield) of 3-methyl-carbamoylmercapto-4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole melting at 1121 14 C.

EXAMPLE Preparation of 3-furoylmercapto-4-n-butyl 1,2,4 triazole.--3-mercapto-4-n-butyl 1,2,4 triazole 10 g. or 0.064 mole) was added to a solution of sodium hydroxide (2.6 g. or 0.064 mole) in methanol (200 ml.). The solution was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, benzene ml.) was added, and the slurry concentrated to dryness to yield the sodium salt of the triazole. The salt was slurried in benzene (200 ml.) and furoyl chloride (8.5 g. or 0.065 mole) was added and the slurry was heated to reflux for 2 hours. After cooling to room temperature the benzene was washed with water, 5% sodium hydroxide solution, water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The solid was recrystallized from benzene to give 3-fur oylmercapto-4-n-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole melting at 102105 C. The structure was confirmed by its infrared spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum.

EXAMPLE 96 Preparation of 3-(p-methoxyphenacylmercapto)-4-nbutyl-1,2,4-triazole.

To a solution of 3-mercapto-4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 10 g. or 0.063 mole) and sodium hydroxide (2.55 g. or 0.0637 mole) in 200 ml. of methanol was added ot-bromo-p-methoxyacetophenone (15.3 g. or 0.067 mole). The reaction mixture was heated at reflux for 16 hours and the solvent removed in vacuum to leave a solid residue. The solid was washed with water and recrystallized from benzene-hexane to give 3 (p methoxy-phenacylmercapto)-4-n-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole melting at 79-82 C. The structure was confirmed by its infrared and nuclear magnetic spectra.

TABLE I.-1,2,4-TRIAZOLE EXAMPLES TABLE IC0nt'lnued Name Example No.

TABLE II.-CHARACTERIZATION OF EXAMPLES Analysis 1 or literature reference Example number Melting point 0.) Empirical formula 106107. CnH N4OaS See footnotes at end of table.

TABLE II.-Contlnued Analysis 1 or literature reference Example number Melting point 0.) Empirical formula C H N S 80 Concentrate CmHzaNsOaS 50.0 (50.6) 9.5 (8.1) 20.9 (19.5) 7.8 (8. 9) 81 Brown oil ..L. 82 128-131/2 mm! C7H13N3S 49.1 (49.1) 7.6 (7.6) 24.6 (24.6) 19.0 (18.7) 83.- l68-175/2mm1. CnHuN4S 51.2 (51.4) 6.8 (6.7) 26. 65(26. 7) 15.1 (15.2)

147-155/11111113- CrDH NaOS 52.7 (52.3) 8.2 (8.3) 18.8 (18.4) 14.45 (14.0) 220-230/.25 mm. CHHNNQOS 60. 9 (60. 6) 7. 3 (6. 9) 15.05 (15.2) 10. 9 (11. 5) 95-97 CsHnC-lsNsOS 31.8 (31.6) 4.2 (3.95) 13.95 (13.8) 10.8 (10. 5) 74-76 CgH14N4O 45.6 (44. 8) 6.3 (6.5) 26.7 (26.2) 14.3 (15.0) -205/.03 mm? CuHivNaOS 60. 9 (60. 6) 7.1 (6.9) 16. 0 (l5. 2) 10. 95 (11. 105-107.. C H N O4S 44.8 (44.6) 4.3 (4. 0) 21.5 (21.7) 20.1 (19.8) 112-114 Cal-114N403 45. 1 (44. 9) 6. 7 (6, 6) 26. 2 (26. 2) 14. 8 (14. 9) 143-144 GmH BrNzOS 46.2 (45.9) 4.05 (4.1) 12.4 (12.3) 9.5 (9. 4) 160-162 CuHuBrNaOS 45.8 (45.9) 4.0 (4.1) 12.2 (12.3) 9.5 (9.4) 94-96. cuHflNzozs 57.7 (57. 7) 5.8 (5.9) 14.4 (14. 4) 11.0 (11.0) 94 114-116-. C H14N4OsS 51.0 (51.0) 5.2 (4.6) 18.3 (18.3) 10.5 (10.4) 102-5 CnHmNzOzS 52.7 (52.6) 5.5 (5. 2) 16.6 (16. 7) 12.7 (12.8) 79-82-. C HmNaOzS 58.1 (59.1) 6.4 (6.3) 13.6 (13.8) 10.4 (10.5) 100-102 Chemical Abstracts 63, 13242 (1965) 248-250.- CuHnNsOrS 49.0 (49.0) 2.8 (2.6) 20.3 (20.4) 9.4 (9.3) 99-- 174-176--.. CmHiaNaOzS 61.9 (61.8) 4.25 (4.2) 13.5 (13.5) 10.5 (10.3) 100 143-146 ouuwNlozs 55.35 (55.2) 3 (3.1) 17.2 (17. 2) 9.9 .8)

1 The number in parethesis represents the theoretical value as calculated from the empirical formula.

2 Boiling point in 0.

Among the structures of this invention which are fungicidal the preferred compounds are those which are novel. Novel structures within this invention may be represented by the structure (XII) wherein A is (a) hydrogen,

(b) lower alkyl groups and lower alkyl groups substituted by halogen, preferably chlorine, lower alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy or nitro; aryloxy; alkoxy, alkyl, halo or nitro substituted aryloxy; aryl; alkoxy, alkyl, halo preferably chloro or nitro substituted aryl; benzoyl and halo preferably chloro, alkoxy, alkyl or nitro substituted benzoyl,

(c) the group -C(X)R wherein X is O or S and R is selected from the group consisting of aryl, lower alkyl substituted aryl, lower alkoxy substituted aryl, halo and nitro substituted aryl, furoyl, and the NR R wherein R and R may be hydrogen or lower alkyl groups,

(d) the group CH C(O)NR R wherein R and R have the above meaning,

(e) the group CH(OH)R wherein R" is hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower halo-substituted alkyl,

(f) the group wherein C and D are hydrogen and a meta-directing group such as cyano, nitro, sulfonic acid and s-ulfonic acid derivatives with the proviso that only one of C and D may be hydrogen,

(g) salt-forming metals such as alkali and alkaline earth metals, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc;

When A is hydrogen R is alkyl of 3-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or nitro groups; and cycloalkyl of 3-8 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy or nitro groups;

When A is methyl R is alkyl of 3-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or nitro groups; aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms and aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms in which the aryl group is substituted with lower alkyl, halo preferably chloro and nitro groups;

When A is carbamoylmethyl, benzyl, nitrobenzyl or sodium R is alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or nitro groups; aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms and aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms in which the aryl group is substituted with lower alkyl, halo preferably chloro and nitro groups;

When A is all other values R is alkyl of l-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or nitro groups; cycloalkyl of 3-8 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy or nitro groups; aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms; aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms substituted in the aryl group with lower alkyl, halo preferably chloro, and nitro groups; aryl; and lower alkyl, halo preferably chloro, and nitro substituted aryl; and

R is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or nitro groups, furyl and the group -COOB wherein B is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, ammonium, ammonium monosubstituted with lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl, ammonium disubstituted with lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl, ammonium trisubstituted with lower alkyl or lower hydroxyalkyl, quaternary ammonium and salt-forming metals; and acid salts of the compounds of Formula XII which are basic.

by the formula R" (XIII) wherein R is (a) alkyl, straight or branched, of 3 to 18 carbon atoms, exclusive of n-butyl, which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy, mercapto, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl mercapto, cyano, nitro, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, phenyl, phenyl substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, or a COY group wherein Y is hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl) amino or an OM group wherein M is a salt-forming metal, (b) alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, (c) alkynyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, (d) cycloalkyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and (e) a heterocyclic group selected from the group consisting of 4-pyridyl, thiazyl, pyrimidyl, morpholinyl, benzothiazyl and their chlorinated derivatives.

Other novel structures within the scope of this invention may be depicted by the formula 4-isopropyl-1,2,4-triazole 4-sec-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 4-n-pentyl-l ,2,4-triazole 4-dodecyl-1,2,4-triazole 4-octadecyl-1,2,4-triazole B-mercap to-4-isobutyl-l ,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4-isopentyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4-undecyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- (4-chlorobutyl) 1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- (4-methoxypropyl) -1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4-(Z-hydroxybutyl) -1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4-(4-nitrobutyl) 1,2,4-triazole 3 -mercapto-4-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-methylmercapto-4- (3-chloropropyl l ,2,4-triazole 3-ethylmercapto-4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-butylmercapto-4-(2-chloropropyl) -1,2,4-triazole 3-chloromethylmercapto-4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-(2-hydroxyethylmercapto)-4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3 2-cyano ethylmercapto -4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3 2-nitroethylmercap to -4-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole 3- [2- 4-chlorophenoxy) ethylmercapto] -4-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole 3- [2- (Z-methylphenoxy) ethylmercapto] 4-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole 3- 2- (3 -nitrophenoxy ethylmercapto] -4-butyl- 1,2,4-triazole 3-benzylmercapto-4-butyl-l ,2,4-triazole 3- (4-chlorobenzylmercapto -4-butyl-1 ,2,4-triazole 3- (dodecylbenzylmercapto -4-buty1- l ,2,4-triazole 3-phenacylmercapto-4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3- 3,S-dichlorophenacylmercapto -4-butyl- 1 ,2,4-triazole 3 -benzoylmercapto-4-chloropropyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-(3-nitrobenzoylmercapto)4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3 -carbamoylmercapto-4-benzyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-methylcarb amoylmercapto-4' (4-chlorob enzyl) 1,2,4-triazole 3-dime thylcarb amoylmercapto-4- (2-ch1oroethyl) 1,2,4-triazole 3-carbamoylmethylmercapto-4- (3-chloropropyl 1,2,4-triazole 3 -carbamoylmethylmercapto-4- (2-methoxybenzyl) 1,2,4-triazole 3 -carb amoylmethylmercaptot- 4-nitrobenzyl 1,2,4-triazole 3-methylcarbamoylmethylmercapto-4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-hydroxymethylmercapto-4- 2-chlorobutyl 1,2,4-triazole 3-chloromethylmercapto-4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-( 1-hydroxy-2,4-dichloroethylmercapto -4- (2-chl0ropropyl)-1,2,4-triazole 3- (Z-nitrophenylmercapto -4-(3-bromopropyl)-1,2,4-

triazole 3- (Z-cyanophenylmercapto)-4butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-(4-sulfonamidophenylmercapto )-4-benzyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-(4-nitrophenylmercapto)-4-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1,2,4-

triazole 3-furoylmercapto-4- 3-chloropropyl l ,2,4-triazole 3-furoylmercapto-4- (2-chlorobenzyl -l,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- 2-chloroethyl -5-methy1- 1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- (2-chlorobenzyl -5-furyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- (4-chlorobutyl -5-butyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- (2-bromopropyl) -5- (Z-hydroxyethyl) 1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4-benzyl-S-(Z-nitroethyl) -1,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4-cyclopentyl-S-hydroxymethyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-methylmercapto-4-butyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole 3-ethylmercapto-4- (3-chloropropyl -5-chloromethyl- 1,2,

4triazole 3- Z-chloroethylmercapto -4- 2-chloroethyl) -5-carboxy- 1,2,4-triazole 3-carbamoylmercapto-4- (3-methoxypropyl) -5-carboxy- 1,2,4-triazole 3- 3-methoxypropylmercapto -4- 4-chlorobenzyl) -5- carboxy- 1,2,4-triazole 3- 4-nitrophenylmercapto -4- 3-bromopropyl)-5-carboxy-1,2,4-triazole 3- (4-methylbenzoylmercapto)-4-octyl-5-hydroxy-1,2,4-

triazole 3-mercapto-4- Z-hydroxyethyl) -5-hydroxy-l ,2,4-triazole 3-mercapto-4- (2-chlorobutyl)-5-hydroxy-1,2,4-triazole The 1,2,4-triazoles of this invention and salts thereof possess biocidal properties and in this respect are particularly useful as agricultural fungicides. As such, they may be applied to various loci such as the seed, the soil or the foliage. For such purposes the 1,2,4-triazoles may be used in the technical or pure form as prepared, as solu tions or as formulations. The compounds are usually taken up in a carrier or are formulated so as to render them suitable for subsequent dissemination as pesticides. For example, the 1,2,4-triazoles may be formulated as wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, dusts, granular formulations, aerosols, flowable emulsion concentrates. In such formulations, the compounds are extended with a liquid or solid carrier and, when desired, suitable surfactants are incorporated.

It is usually desirable, particularly in the case of foliar spray formulations, to include adjuvants, such as wetting agents, spreading agents, dispersing agents, stickers, adhesives and the like in accordance with agricultural practices. Such adjuvants commonly used in the art may be found in the John W. McCutcheon, Inc. publication Detergents and Emulsifiers 1967 Annual. Of course the surfactant should be selected relative to the specific triazole. In some instances the cationic 1,2,4-triazole salts may be incompatible with anionic surfactants and the anionic 1,2,4 triazole salts may be incompatible with cationic surfactants.

In case the 1,2,4-triazole compound is water-soluble, it may be dissolved directly in water to provide an aqueous solution for application. Similarly, the compounds of this invention may be dissolved in a water-miscible liquid, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, dimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide or mixtures of these with water and such solutions extended with water. The concentration of the solution may vary from 2% to 98% with a preferred range being 25% to For the preparation of emulsifiable concentrates, the compound may be dissolved in organic solvents, such as xylene, pine oil, orthodichlorobenzene, methyl oleate, or a mixture of solvents, together with an emulsifying agent which permits dispersion of the pesticide in water. The concentration of the active ingredient in emulsion concentrates is usually 10% to 25 and in flowable emulsion concentrates, this may be as high as 75%.

Wettable powders suitable for spraying, may be prepared by admixing the compound with a finely divided solid, such as clays, inorganic silicates and carbonates, and silicas and incorporating wetting agents, sticking agents, and/or dispersing agents in such mixtures. The concentration of active ingredients in such formulations is usually in the range of 20% to 98%, preferably 40% to 75 Dusts are prepared by mixing the 1,2,4-triazoles with finely divided inert solids which may be organic or inorganic in nature. Materials useful for this purpose include botanical flours, silicas, silicates, carbonates and clays.

19 One convenient method of preparing a dust is to dilute a wettable powder with a finely divided carrier. Dust concentrates containing 20% to 80% of the active ingredient are commonly made and are subsequently diluted to 1% to use concentration.

The 1,2,4-triazoles can be applied as fungicidal sprays by methods commonly employed, such as conventional high-gallonage hydraulic sprays, low gallonage sprays, airblast spray, aerial sprays and dusts. The dilution and rate of application will depend upon the type of equipment employed, the method of application and diseases to be controlled, but the amount is usually 0.1 lb. to 25 lbs. per acre of the active ingredient.

As as seed treatment, the amount of toxicant coated on the seed is usually at a dosage rate of about 0.1 to ounces per hundred pounds of seed. As a soil fungicide the chemical may be incorporated in the soil or applied to the surface usually at a rate of 0.1 to lbs. per acre. As a foliar fungicide the toxicant is usually applied to growing plants at a rate of 0.25 to 10 pounds per acre.

The substituted 1,2,4-triazoles of this invention are also of interest when mixed with fertilizers and fertilizing materials. Such mixtures with fertilizers may be made in a variety of ways. For example, liquid formulations may be sprayed onto particles of mixed fertilizer or of fertilizer ingredients, such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, potassium chloride or sulfate, calcium phosphate or urea, singly or in admixture. Also, the toxicants and the solid fertilizing materials may be admixed in mixing or blending equipment. Similarly, a solution of toxicants in a volatile solvent may be applied to particles of fertilizer or fertilizer ingredients. A particularly useful form in which the toxicants are incorporated With fertilizers is in granular formulations. This type of solid composition serves a dual purpose in providing fertilizing material for the rapid growth of desired plants and at the same time helps control fungal diseases in one operation without the necessity of separate applications.

The compounds of this invention were evaluated as foliar fungicides for the control of wheat leaf rust, Puccinia recondita. In this test aqueous sprays were applied to about one week old Wheat seedlings and the plants were allowed to dry. They were then inoculated with standard spore suspension of the wheat leaf rust organism containing approximately 25,000 spores per ml. The plants were then held under standard conditions for the disease to develop. After about 7-9 days, lesions were counted and compared to those on untreated plants. The percent disease control was calculated. In a related test in order to determine the persistency of the sprays, the treated plants were rained upon for varying times in a standard rain machine in which six minutes of rain was equal to about one inch of rain. Table III gives the results.

TABLE III.-FWHEAT LEAF RUST CONTROL BY TABLE IIIContinued Percent control Percent control (without rain) (with 1 of rain) 1 1b. 0251b. 1 1b. 0.25 lb.

100 91 99 100 100 100 100 100 100 68 8O 57 100 97 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 51 100 100 86 53 78 61 72 46 34 44 98 100 100 100 100 100 80 9Q 72 99 96 63 63 49 15 0 O 80 73 100 98 51 26 80 57 28 0 87 8O 72 41 100 100 81 100 87 100 94 65 O O 100 100 83 82 99 98 100 100 100 100 100 109 100 86 100 100 99 99 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 51 51 100 100 100 99 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 96 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 93 100 100 97 98 100 100 100 98 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 98 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 96 93 96 83 100 100 90 84 100 100 99 100 100 97 Other tests in which the spray residue was allowed to age for several days before being rained upon demonstrated excellent persistency.

I he compounds of this invention which have exhibited excellent systemic activity in the control of cereal rusts are of the structure R" (XV) wherein R is hydrogen or the group SA wherein A is hydrogen, cyano-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkoxy substituted lower alkyl, the group -CH(OH)CCl --CH NR R wherein R and R are hydrogen or lower alkyl, benzyl, methoxybenzyl, the group C(X)N-R R wherein X is O or S and R and R are hydrogen or lower alkyl, methoxybenzoyl, furoyl, 2,4-dinitrophenyl and saltforming metals; R" is alkyl of 3 to 6 carbon atoms exclusive of the tert-butyl group, lower alkoxy lower alkyl and benzyl; and R' is hydrogen or the COOB group wherein B is hydrogen, lower alkyl or a metal, ammonium, amine or qauternary ammonium salt-forming group.

The preferred compounds are those in which R" is a nbutyl group, e.g. 4-n-butyl-l,2,4-triazole, 3-mercapto- 4-n-butyl-'l,2,4-triazole and 3mercapto-4m-butyl-5-carboxy-1,2,4-triazole.

As one test for systemic activity the compounds were evaluated by a root-uptake method. In the root-uptake test one of the active compounds of this invention, contained in a suitable formulation, was incorporated into the soil by either spraying it into a rotating drum of soil, or by drenching the soil. The dosage of active ingredient in the soil ranged from about 50.0 to about 2.5 parts per million (p.p.m.). Seeds of a susceptible wheat variety were planted in the treated soil and allowed to germinate and grow to a height of about 4 inches. The plants were then inoculated with a spore suspension of Puccinia re- 21 condita. The plants sprayed with spores of the rust fungus were then held at 70 F. in a moist chamber about 16 hours to permit infection. The lesions were allowed to develop about one week and were then counted in comparison to untreated plants and the percent disease control calculated. Table IV gives the results.

22 A field test was conducted in which 3-mercapto-4-nbutyl-l,2,4-triazole (the compound of Example 57), Plantvax and maneb (manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate) were evaluated for the control of leaf rust on winter wheat planted in September. Applications of the chemicals were made the following April when the wheat TABLE IV.SYSTEMIC ACTIVITY BY ROOT-UPTAKE Percent systemic wheat leaf rust control, p.p.rn. in soil Example number R R" R 20 1O 5 2. 5

H C3H1 H H 'n-C4Ho H H i-C4Ho H H i-CsHn H H CeHn H H CHaOCHzCHgCHz H H CuHsCHz H H 3,4-C1COHa H H 5-ehloro-2-pyridyl H SH C3111 H SH CrHa H 100 97 83 -SH Cs u H 97 97 97 SH CoHra H 54 0 -SH CeHsCH: H 64 34 0 ---SH 041% COOH 100 99 95 SH C4119 COONH(CH2CH2OH)3 100 99 98 -SH 04119 CO 0211 100 95 93 -SNa 04HQ COOCeHs 99 97 85 -SC(O)NHCH: C4Ho COOH 100 99 96 --SC(O)NHCH3 CAHQ COONH(CHzCHzOH)e 99 99 89 -SC(S)N(CH3)2 C4110 OH 100 as 88 (2-(Z-cyanoethyl)A n-butyI-1,2,4-trlazolme-3-thione) 92 S6 82 ""SCHZCHQOC2H5 C4Hn H 89 S5 52 --SOH(OH)CC13 C4Ha H 100 160 98 SCHzC(O)NH2 C4110 H 92 91 76 --SCH2CtH4OCH -4 C4110 H 72 71 64: SCsH (NO2)r2,4 C4110 H 100 94 67 -SC(O)NHCH3 04119 H 100 160 96 SC(O)CoH40CHa-4 C4119 H 100 100 98 -iur0yl 04119 H 99 Q9 94 SCHzCOCaH4OCHz-4 0411 H 44 68 55 Another type of systemic test was run in which pots of approximately 5 inch high wheat plants were sprayed with varying concentrations of the test compound. Thirty-six hours later they were sprayed six minutes in a rain machine which amounted to about one inch of normal rainfall. The plants were then placed in a greenhouse for 7 days and then inoculated with a spore suspension of wheat leaf rust, Puccinia recondim. About 7 days later lesion counts were made on ten leaves representing the sprayed leaves and new growth from each replicate and compared with similar pots of wheat plants which were untreated with a chemical and the percent disease control determined. Disease control on the new growth is a measure of systemic activity. The commercial product known by the trademarked name Plantvax, which is 2,3-dihydro-S- carboxanilido-tS-methyl-1,4-oxathiin-4,4-dioxide, was used as a standard. Table V gives the results.

Percent rust control Sprayed leaf New growth (lb./100 gal.) (lb./100 gal.)

V2 In I12 it 12 Treatment example number:

3 99 99 97 100 98 85 31- 99 76 42 87 54 46 57- 97 88 80 90 77 75 59. 98 96 91 92 79 75 60. 96 88 85 65 48 38 65 78 63 54 54 34 36 75.. 99 91 71 86 73 61 76 90 78 46 90 75 63 77. 86 73 81 54 75 67 79. 69 74 81 82 69 56 B0. 79 79 57 79 63 54 84. 73 27 61 23 17 87- 88 51 49 88 59 38 89. 98 93 81 81 69 57 90- 96 83 68 98 79 67 93 95 81 91 92 79 77 97 13 0 0 42 27 0 Plantvax 49 37 3 38 32 TABLE VI.SYSTEMIC FIELD TEST Number of lesions/800 leaves Treatment Example 57 Lbs/acre Plantvax Untreated A field test was conducted in which the compound of Example 57, the compound of Example 75, and Plantvax were evaluated for the control of leaf rust on spring wheat planted on May first. Forty one days after planting spray applications of the chemicals were made in a dosage series. Thirty-six days after treatment the disease control was evaluated by determining the percent leaves infected. Table VII gives the results.

TABLE VIL-SYSIEMIC FIELD TEST 23 Representative compounds of this invention have given good control of various fungal organisms. For example, compounds of the type I tJ (XVI) wherein R is lower alkyl, R is hydrogen and carboxy and its triethanol amine salts, R and R are hydrogen or lower alkyl, and X is O or S have given 80% or better kills of Phytophthora infestans at 1200 p.p.m. Compounds of Formula XIII wherein R is alkyl or alkyl substituted with hydroxy, alkoxy or aryloxy, e.g. Examples 10, 16, 17, 18 and 29, have given good control of Phytophthora infestans by foliar application at 1200 p.p.m. or by root uptake from treated soil containing 20 p.p.m. Example 13, 4-n-dodecyl-1,2,4-triazole, gave 9S-100% control of rice blast, Piricularia oryzae, by foliar application at 1200 p.p.m. Example 84, 3 (4 methoxybenzylmercapto)-4- butyl-1,2,4-triazole, gave 50-85% control of Botrytis cinerea on broad bean at 1200 p.p.m. When beets were grown in a soil containing 200 p.p.m. of Example 93, 3- (4-methoxy-benzoylmercapto)-4-butyl 1,2,4 triazole, an excellent control of Pythium ultimum was obtained.

The compounds of this invention may be utilized as the sole biocidal agents, alone or in admixture, or they may be employed in conjunction with other fungicides or with insecticides, miticides, bird repellents and comparable pesticides.

Fungicides which may be combined with the 1,2,4-triazoles of this invention include dithiocarbamates and derivatives such as ferric dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam), zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ziram), manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (maneb) and its coordination product with zinc ion, zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (zineb), tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram) and 3,4- dimethyl 1,3,5 2H tetrahydrothiadiazine 2 thione;

nitrophenol derivatives such as dinitro-( 1-methylheptyl)-;

phenyl crotonate (dinocap), Z-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate (binapacryl) and 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl isopropyl carbonate, heterocyclic structures such as and miscellaneous fungicides such as dodecylguanidine acetate (dodine), 3- [2- (3 ,5 -dimethyl-2-oxycyc1ohexyl) -2-hydroxyethyl] glutarimide (cycloheximide), phenylmercuric acetate, N-ethylmercuri-l,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3,6-endomethano- 3,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorophthalimide, phenylmercuric monoethanolammonium lactate, 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone, l,4-dichloro-2,4-dimethoxybenzene, p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulfonate, 2-chloro-1-nitropropane,

24 polychloronitrobenzenes such as pentachloronitrobenzene, methyl isothiocyanate, fungicidal antibiotics such as griseofulvin or kasugamycin, tetrafluorodichloroacetone, 1- phenylthiosemicarbazide, Bordeaux mixture, nickel-containing compounds and sulfur.

Herbicidal or plant growth regulatory activity has been observed with certain of the 4-substituted-1,2,4-triazoles of this invention (Formula I) which have the formula below:

(a) alkyl, straight or branched, of l-18 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy, mercapto, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl mercapto, cyano, nitro, lower alkylarnino, di- (lower alkyl)amino, phenyl, phenyl substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, phenoxy or thiophenoxy which may be substituted in the phenyl group with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or nitro, or a COY group wherein Y is hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino or an OM group wherein M is a salt-forming metal,

(b) alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms,

(c) alkynyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms,

((1) cycloalkyl of 3 to 8 carbon atoms which may be substituted with one or more halo preferably chloro, hydroxy or nitro groups,

(e) aralkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms which may be substituted in the aryl group with lower alkyl, halo preferably chloro and nitro groups,

(f) aryl which may be substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cyano or nitro groups, or

(g) a mono or bicyclic heterocyclic group of 5 to 9 atoms which contains at least one and up to three nitrogen atoms as a heteroatom and which may be substituted with halo preferably chloro, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, cyano or nitro groups.

In evaluating compounds for phytotoxicity, a standard TABLE VIII.PHYTOTOXICITY 0F 4-SUBS'IITUTED-l TRIAZOLES, AVERAGE PERCENT INJURY Example Monocots Dicots A field test was conducted using 4-butyl-1,2,4-triazole (Example 3) as the test compound. This was applied to a wheat (Pennoll variety) field in which the wheat was approximately six inches tall and tillering, and a natural population of weeds about two inches tall was present. Dosage rates of 0.5, 1 and 2 pounds per acre (0.55, 1.1 and 2.2 kilograms per hectare) were applied as an aqueous spray in a carrier volume of 40 gallons per acre. Ten days after treatment, the extent of weed control was observed. There was slight inhibition of the weeds at 0.5 pound per acre, and at 1 pound per acre there was moderate to severe inhibition. At 2 pounds per acre, there was severe inhibition, particularly of pigweed (Amaranthus spp.) and purslane (Portulaca oleracea). It was estimated that these weeds were controlled to the extent of greater than 90%.

For herbicidal and plant growth regulation purposes, the compounds of Formula XVII are applied in a plant growth regulating amount, which generally is in the range of 0.5 to 20 pounds per acre and preferably at 1 to 5 pounds per acre.

We claim:

1. A fungicidal composition which comprises an agriculturally acceptable carrier and 2 to 98% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, of a fungicide selected from the group consisting of substituted triazoles of the following formula wherein R is a heterocyclic radical selected from the group consisting of thiazolyl, triazolyl and benzothiazolyl or such a heterocyclic group substituted with chlorine, and the acid salts of these triazoles.

2. A fungicidal composition according to claim 1 which comprises, in addition, a surface-active agent.

3. A fungicidal composition according to claim 1 in which the active ingredient is 4-[3-(1,2,3-triazolyl)]-l, 2,4-triazole.

4. A fungicidal composition according to claim 1 in which the active ingredient is 4-(Z-benzothiazolyl)-1,2,4- triazole.

5. A fungicidal composition according to claim 1 in 26 which the active ingredient is 4-[2-(4-chlorobenzothiazolyl)-l,2,4-triazole.

6. A method for the control of phytopathogenic fungi which comprises applying to a locus to be protected at fungicidally effective amount of a fungicidal composition containing as the fungicide a compound of the formula wherein R is a heterocyclic radical selected from the group consisting of thiazolyl, triazolyl and benzothiazolyl or such a heterocyclic group substituted with chlorine, or the acid salts of these triazoles.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the said fungus is a rust fungus.

8. A method according to claim 6 in which the said locus is a seed.

9. A method according to claim 6 in which the said locus is the soil.

10. A method according to claim 6 in which the said locus is plant foliage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,800,486 7/1957 Grundmann et al. 260-308 R 3,444,162 5/1969 Hyatt 424269 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,723 8/1964 France 424-269 OTHER REFERENCES Chemical Abstracts 57:3982a (1962) Ainsworth. Chemical Abstracts 49:3949d. Chemical Abstracts 6719073 8g.

ALBERT T. MEYERS, Primary Examiner N. A. DREZIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

